Ball-lock release and spring-actuating mechanism



G. J. HENRY BALL Loox RELEASE AND SPRING ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 14. 1924 0% www@ o IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Sept. 30

Patented Sept. 3Q, i924@ GEORGE J', HENRY, O'F SAN FRANCISCO,

aus

CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB TO WILLIAM H.

AYERY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BALL-LOCK RELEASE `AND SPRING-ACTUATING MECHANISIVL.

Application filed. February 14, 1924; Serial No. 692,930. i

To all whom t may oon-cern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. HENRY, a. citizen of the United States, and resident of San Francisco, county of San Francisco,

State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ballliock Release and SpringActuat-ing Mechanism, of which the following is a. specification.

My invention is particularly applicable to any mechanism wherein itis desiredrto forcibly increase or decrease the distance between two movable members or between a stationary and movable member, and is particularly adapted to the setting of brakes, in vehicles or in stationary machiner whereby an electrical or relatively light me-` chanical impulse may be employed to release elements to relatively move under the action of springs, weights or other impelling forces. VIt mayl also be employed to retain in locked positionv two members! otherwise relatively movable and upon the releasing of said lock the members are allowed to move with re spect to each other. 1

This action I accomplish by a light mechanical impulse which may be created through electrical or pneumatic means or otherwiseI introduced as may best suit the yconditions of any particular mechanism, and whereby a plurality of ball members are rolledinto a new position with respectto their contacting members as by interposing a tumbler carried by one element and normally locking or unlocking anassociating element and holding the said tumbler in the desired position by interposing a ball or ball shaped Vmember between the tumbler and a longitudinally movable piece so that when the said piece is moved longitudinally by a lightimpulse the ball rolls thereon and intoor'out of engagement with the wtumbler, releasing the tumbler from locked engagementor fixing the tumbler in locked en gagement.

Other objects will appear from the drawings and specifications which follow:

Referring to the drawing and following specifications my invention will be madev brakes on an automobile. The remaining parts forming no part of my invention but well known and therefore not shown.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross section through mechanism of Figure 1 employing my invention.

' Figure 3 is a cross section of Figure 2 on the line II-II thereof.

Figure 4 is a detail of certain of the parts of Figure 2 in the locked position.

Figure 5 is similar to Figure 3 with the parts in unlocked position where the tum blers have collapsed and the mechanism is functioning to create the braking impulse.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the twomembers in which the tumblers are adapted to seat.

In theexample here shown a light electrical impulse is employed to initiate the unlocking operation.

Throughout the `figures similar numerals refer to identical parts.

lThenumeral 1 indicates a head carrying the fork or other terminal connection 2.

o indicates a casing and1`4 a second head carrying the gland and nut 5 through which the rod 6 functions to slierten the distance and therefore to pull together the brake rod 7 and any connection at 8 when the mechanism is unlocked. The pivot 9 at such times being shifted to the Adotted position 9 of Figure 1.

Referring now td Figure 2.

A shell of soft iron l() having iron end washers 11 and 12 respectively forms an electromagnet when the winding 13 is energized through the lead wires 14 and 15. At 17 is a movable coi'e piece normally held in. the retracted position by the spring 16. A

tube member 18 is provided with a plurality of slots 19, 20 and end 21 and a central hole 22 and'` within this is ankinner projecting thimble 23, against which the spring 16 bears. This thimble 23 is threaded or pressed into the end 21. (See Figures 2, 4, 5), and the dog 24 is slidable inside of this thimble. The thimble is slotted on its periphery to correspond with the slots in the member 18 so that the tumblers, two of which are shown at 25, 26 may collapse into the said slots. This occurs when the dog 24 moves toward the left of the figure upon the core piece 17 striking the rod 27 thus compressing the springs 16 and 28 and forcing again to roll eutwa the dog to the left at which time the balls, tivo of which are shown at 29, 350, roll half of the distance of said movement and thus roll from under the projecting ends O vthe tumblers, allowing the tumblers to collapse from the position shown in Figure 4 t0, the position shown in Figure 5.

It Will now be seen that the concave end 31 of the rod 6, which has heretofore been bearing against the sloping ends of the tumble-rs, is released and will under the action 'of the master spring 32, which iS Dormally under compression as shown in Figure 2 against the Vshouldered tube 33, bearing .against'the rod end 31; shoot forward to ing the current through the solenoid connecnections 14, 15 which allows the core l? to resume its retracted position (Figure l) under the action of spring 16, at which time the spring28 forces the dog 241 against the balls 29, 30 Which Will now be held from further movement by the tninblfers 25., 26, While the tumblers are retained in the position of Figure 5, by bearing against the inner surface l() of the tube 6.

If now the members 7, 8 be separated as by pulling up the emergency brake rod of an autOlnObile, as fully set forth in United States Letters Patent No. 1,398,399, issued Nov. 29, 1921, the tubular rod 6 will be 'restored tothe full line position shown in Figures 1 and 2, at which time the tumblers 25, 26 Will be forced ont from the position O f Figure 5 to the position of Figure 4 the balls 29, 30 Will roll under the tumbler ends and upon i'eleasing the aforesaid emergency lever the sloping surface of the rod end 231 VvWill bear against the now outwardly locked tumblers with the full pressure of the niaster spring 32 and the parts will be locked in this position with the members 8 and 7 held apart, all as shown in Figures 2, 3 4V and will be held thus locked until the solenoid 13 is again energized vand the dog 2li moved to the left under the blow received by the rod 27 from the core piece 17' causing the balls ,ed and release. tlie eileblers 2,5, 2,6 to collapse as before.

shell and actuated by said spring to move longitudinally with. respect to said shell when released, releasing means for said member comprising tumbler meansV normally locking Y said member and resting Von spherical elements, a spool concentric with said tuinblers, spherical elements interposed between the spool and the tumblers, and actuating means to move the thinible Where by the Seid elements are relled with reeneet te the tumblere, enabling' the tumble-rs te move to unlock the member.

2. Mechanism as setffertl-i lli claim wherein the epliefeel elements are steel belle and wherein the engel lees' e.. plurality ef diameters adapted te the Said bells.

3, Mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a solenoid and a plunger, said plunger adapted to strileia motivating blow Vto YnuoveV -is energized and wherein the spherical-elements are .Steel belleeml wherein the Speel has a plurality of diameters adapted te the said balls.

5. ln aloclingand releasing device, tum- Vbler means adapted toliold parts in a loclged Yand actuating means for said movable inember. i

6. Mechanism as set forth in claimAl wherein said actuating ineans zompr-ises a Seleneid end, e plunger, Sadpluneer ader-ted to strike a niotivatin blow to 'move said member and m11 en bail when e@ Seeed le. eriefseeel Yesoneri J. t 

